Air conditioning apparatus



June 14, 1938-* R. D. DELAMERE AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed July 2, 1936 Patented June 14, 1938 PATENT oFFlcE AIR. CONDITIONING APPARATUS Rudolf D. Delamere, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Delamere & Williams Limited Application July l2, 1936, Serial No. 88,617

Claims.

'I'his invention relates generally to apparatus for theI transfer of heat, moisture, or impurities between a liquid and a gas, and particularly to apparatus for the conditioning of air in the rooms 5 of buildings.

Apparatus for this purpose is already known, but the object of the present invention is to devise apparatus in which the air is caused to travel over water-covered surfaces in such a way as to secure a very'eilicient transfer of heat or impurities from the air to the water, and a further object is to devise apparatus which may be constructed at reasonable cost, and which will b comparatively inexpensive to operate.

l The objects are attained by means of the constructions hereinafter described and illustrated -in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is aside elevation, partly broken away, of the improved apparatus; and Fig. 2a section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

In the drawing like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the diierent iigures.

The apparatus comprises a cylindrical openended casing I, the upper end 2 of which is preferably slightly inwardly curved as shown, and provided with a ldownwardly directed lip 2E as shown. The lower end 3 is inwardly and upwardly curved to form an annular liquid receiving .recess 3. This casing'is supported above and in spaced relation to agdrip pan or drainage basin 4. 'I'he gap between the lower end ofthe casing and the basin 4 may be enclosed by a perforated metal or other screen 5 through the openings of which air may pass. The bottom of the liquid recess 3a may be perforated to allow liquid to escape to the basin, although I show a drainage pipe 22. On a standard 6 extending up from the basin 4 is rotatably mounted the atomizer or spreader, which is provided with a closed head v 1 from which depend an annular row of spreader blades 8, the lower ends of which are connected together by an annular band 9.

As will be seen from Fig, 2, these blades are curved or arc shaped in cross section, their inner ends being directed towards the axis of the spreader and their outer ends directed rearwardly, having reference to the direction of rotation of the spreader vas indicated by arrow in Fig. 2. I0 is a water supply pipe, which is provided with outlets or nozzles II arranged, as shown in Fig. 2, to discharge against the rear surfacesof the spreader blades '8. While I show four such nozzles, it will be apparent that a greater or lesser number mayfbe employed.

(Cl- 26T-89) The basin 4 is preferably mounted on astand comprising a hollow post I2 extending up from a base I3. Within the post I2 is positioned a water pipe I4 for supplyingwater to the pipe I0. 'I'he post I2 is also used as a drain pipe to carry o' 5 water from the basin 4. Suitable means are provided, such as the hose I5 for supplying Water to the pipe I4, while other means, such as the hose Iii' may be provided for carrying oif the drainagewater. a fitting 23 which may be ihooked, over the rim. of a sink, basin or other receptacleA Il is a support provided centrally of the basin 4 which is provided with an opening I8` in its bottom to receive the upper end ofthe post I2. l5 drainage openings I9 in its side communicating with the basin 4, a passage 20 to one end of which the water pipe I0 is connected and tothe other end of which the/water pipe I4, and a threaded opening 2I in its top in which is screwed 20 the standard 6. l

To reduce friction in the rotation of the atomizer or spreader, I show the upper end of the standard 6 of tubular construction and into this extends a pinv 24 depending from the head 1, 25

,the lend of the pin engaging a ball bearing' 25 within the standard 6. v

The operation of the device is as follows. Water is supplied under pressure to the pipe III, and escapes through the jet or jets I0, and impinges 30 against the outer parts of the adjacent spreader blades 8. The spreader or atomizer, is, through the force of the impinging water, caused to'rotate, bringing other blades into the path of the Water jets. serve to break up the water, which iscaused to travel in a thin film over the entire surfaces of the blades, and eventually is thrown outwardly against the inside of the casing wall. The 'rotai tion of the atomizer causes an air circulation, the 40 air entering the casing through its lower end passing between the'blades 8 and then passing upwardly and out through the top opening of the casing. To reduce the noise of the impact of the water against the interior of the container 45 I, the latter is preferably lined with felt 26 or other suitable material.

It will be apparent that if the water supply be cold, the temperature of the air in the room will I gradually be reduced by contact with the water, 50 and at the same time any dust or dirt in the air will be taken up by the water and led to the drain. It will also be apparent that if the water is hot', the air will become warmed. It will also be `apparent; that in case the air in the roomlli The hose I6 is provided with l0v As the atomizer rotates, the blades 35 l is' dry, the device may be used as a humidifier, while on the other hand, if the dew point of the air in the room is above the temperature of the water, the device will act as a dehumidifier.

It will be noted that the inwardly curved lower end 3 of the casing I serves a further purpose, as its inner edge is positioned to cause substantially all the inwardly travelling air to enter the space within the annular series of parallel blades, thus forcing the air to pass between the blades in order to escape from the open upper end of the casing. It will be seen that as the air treating water is used to drive the atomizler or spreader the device is very inexpensive to operate, but

it will be understood that -if desired the atomizer may be independently driven by other means, for example by an electric motor, and the water merely discharged against the blades of the atomizer, for the purpose of increasing the elciency of the air and water intermingling or contact.

'I'hough the apparatus has been devised particularly for the conditioning of air, it will be apparent that it is also useful in the, treatment of other liquids or gases.

The apparatus above described is very effective in spreading a comparatively small amount of liquid over a large surface and in securing a very intimate air and water contact, so as to obtain very efficient results for the amount of liquid employed.

It will be understood, however,`that I do not desire to restrict myself to the details of the particular construction shown. For example, in some cases it may be desirable to have the vaporizer or spreader stationary, and the water jets may be arranged to move relative to the spreader. The casing I, in some cases may be dispensed with, as its primary purpose is to prevent the liquid under centrifugal action from being distributed f over too great an area.

What I claim as my invention is:- 1. In apparatus of the character described,

- the combination of a casing open at its upper and lower ends; a spreader in said casing mounted for rotary movement on a verticalaxis, said spreader comprising a frame having a series of blades arranged 4in an annular vertical series; means above said blades to direct upwardly travelling air or gas between the blades; an annular liquid collecting channel at the lower end of said casing; and means for discharging liquid against said blades as the spreader revolves; the inner y edge of said channel being positioned to direct air or gas entering the casing into the space within the annular series of blades. f`

and an annular llange on said casing below the blades adapted to direct air or gas into the central space within the series of blades.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a casing open at its upper and lower ends; a spreader in said casing mounted for rotary movement on a vertical axis, said spreader comprising an imperforate header havinga series of blades depending therefrom and arranged in an annular vertical series about a central air or gas space; means for discharging liquid against said blades from without the blades; and an annular flange on said casing below the blades adapted to direct air or gas into the central space within the series of blades, said casing having an inner liner of sound absorbing material opposite the sides of the spreader.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a casing open at its upper and lower ends; a spreader in said casing mounted for rotary movement on a vertical axis, said spreader comprising an imperforate header having a series of blades depending. therefrom and arranged in an annular vertical series about a central air or gas space; means for discharging liquid against said blades from withoutl the blades; and an annular ange on said casing below the blades adapted to direct air or gas into the central space within the series of blades; and a liquid receptacle below but spaced from the lower edge of the casing.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination 'of a casing open at its upper and lower ends; a spreader in said casing mounted for rotary movement on a vertical axis, said spreader comprising an imperforate header havinga series of blades depending therefrom and arranged in an annular vertical series about a central air or gas space; means for discharging liquid against said blades from without the blades; and an annular flange on said casing below the blades adapted to direct air or gas into the central space within the series of blades; the upper edge of said casing having an inwardly curved ange extending partly over but in spaced 

